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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
is this asthma
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is this asthma
by acm, Apr 24, 2003 12:00AM
My son is seven. As a young child he was always getting colds& chest infections. At three his dr said he had asthma and to use Ventolin. Then we had to change dr and the new dr always seemed to question if he had asthma. But put him on a preventer to see if it would reduce the amounts of chest problems he got. The amount did reduce. But this dr still didn’t seem to really treat it like he had asthma because he was a cougher more than a wheezer (though he did get wheezing). About 18 months ago I had to take him to emergency because he was having difficulty breathing (flared nostril ribs going in etc) they couldn’t here a large amount of wheezing but were going to admit him because he was so unwell but thought they would treat him with Ventolin just in case they gave him seven puffs and he sprang back to life and was able to go home.6 months ago he got croup. Again troubles breathing need two doses of steroid to treat. Both times o2 levels still high at 94% but visible signs of difficulty breathing and being very unwell. Had a new gp from April 2002-october 2002 who didn’t question it was asthma his new dr he has had since nov 2002 also treats him as asthmatic in last 4 weeks has had 2 colds that have caused problems with asthma. This week while he was unwell they did lung function test his function was 75% before Ventolin with 10%increase after what dose this result mean. Dose it indicate asthma or could just a cold give this result. His dr could hear a lot of wheeze this week and o2 levels were 95 at time of testing. His dr has given him an asthma plan upping his prventor
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Apr 24, 2003 12:00AM
, Apr 24, 2003 12:00AM
What you have described sounds very much like your son has asthma. He has had reversible obstruction (attacks) that respond to bronchodilators like Ventolin® and that fits the definition. Being on a controller medicine at the right dose is the next important step. Your son’s new doctor is on this process. I would suggest visiting the Asthma Wizard on our website at http://www.nationaljewish.org to learn more about asthma.
